Effect of irrigation levels, planting methods and mulching on nutrient uptake, yield, quality, water and fertilizer productivity of field mustard (Brassica rapa L.) under sandy loam soil

Adoption of suitable irrigation scheduling, planting technique and mulching can be very useful to improve the growth, yield and quality of field mustard crop which is mainly grown in winter season with residual moisture. A field experiment was carried out in winter seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 at crop research farm of Pantnagar, India to evaluate the effect of irrigation levels, planting methods and mulching on nutrient uptake, yield, quality, water and fertilizer productivity of field mustard [Brassica rapa (L.) var. trilocularis (Roxb.) Kitam] at sandy loam soil. Results revealed that irrigation at 1.2 irrigation water/ cumulative pan evaporation ratio (IW/CPE ratio) resulted in higher yield, N, P, K, and S uptake by plant, oil quality and fertilizer productivity and this irrigation level was at par with 0.9 IW/CPE ratio during 1st year of study when there was good amount of winter rainfall. Among different planting methods and mulching practices, raised bed planting and mulching with rice straw at 5000 kg ha(-1) exhibited significantly higher yield, nutrient uptake, oil quality, water and fertilizer productivity of the crop than that of in flat bed planting and no-mulch. However, it was also recorded that water productivity was reduced by increasing the irrigation levels. From this study, it was evaluated that in a normal winter rainfall year field mustard could be irrigated at 0.9 IW/CPE ratio to achieve higher yield, quality and fertilizer productivity of the crop in sandy loam soil. While, irrigation should be given at 1.2 IW/CPE ratio if there is scarcity in winter rainfall.